Washing machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly, a washing machine which has two laundry holding spaces in one washing machine body. 
     The present invention also relates to a washing machine which has a detergent and washing water supply unit mounted to a supplementary drum for treating small volume laundry for improvement of user&#39;s convenience. 
     The washing machine includes a cabinet, a main drum rotatably mounted in the cabinet having a space for holding laundry, a drawer mounted in the cabinet such that the drawer can be pulled out of the cabinet, a supplementary drum rotatably mounted in the drawer having a space for holding laundry, and a supply unit for supplying detergent and washing water to the supplementary drum.

This application claims the benefit of the Patent Korean Application No. 10-2007-0118965, filed on Nov. 21, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates a washing machine having two laundry holding spaces within one cabinet.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

In general, the washing machine is a device for washing or drying laundry or washing and drying the laundry. Recently, the washing machines are provided with steam supply units additionally for performing a refresh function for removing wrinkles or smell from the laundry.

In the meantime, in related art washing machines, there are front loading type washing machines and top loading type washing machines depending on a direction of laundry introduction, and vertical shaft type washing machines in which pulsators or washing tubs rotate and horizontal type washing machines in which horizontally laid drums rotate depending on a washing type.

In general, each home has one large sized washing machine. Therefore, if it is intended to wash the laundry sorted by kinds, it is required to operate the washing machine many times.

For an example, if it is intended to wash the laundry, sorting the laundry into large volume laundry, such as laundry from grown-up persons and blankets, and small volume laundry, such as baby clothes and undergarments, it is required to operate the washing machine once more for washing the small sized laundry after finishing washing of the large sized laundry.

Accordingly, the washing and drying by using only one washing machine causes the following problems.

First, the many times of operation of the washing machine for washing the small volume laundry increases power consumption and a washing time period.

Second, since a general washing machine has no washing course for fine laundry, washing fine laundry, such as undergarment which is susceptible to damage, with the general washing machine is not suitable.

Third, if a user purchase a small sized washing machine for washing the small volume laundry additionally, an additional space for installation of the small sized washing machine and an expense therefor is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a washing machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which has two laundry holding spaces in one washing machine body for saving a production cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which has a supplementary drum for treating small volume laundry within one washing machine additionally for saving energy consumption and a washing time period.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which enables to secure a laundry holding space to the maximum within one washing machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which has a detergent and washing water supply unit provided to a supplementary drum for treating small volume laundry for improvement of user's convenience.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a washing machine includes a cabinet, a main drum rotatably mounted in the cabinet having a space for holding laundry, a drawer mounted in the cabinet such that the drawer can be pulled out of the cabinet, a supplementary drum rotatably mounted in the drawer having a space for holding laundry, and a supply unit for supplying detergent and washing water to the supplementary drum.

The cabinet may include a partition for dividing an inside space of the cabinet to enable mounting of the main drum and the drawer, separately.

The main drum may be mounted in a space formed on an upper side of the partition, and the supplementary drum is mounted in a space formed on a lower side of the partition.

In the meantime, the supplementary drum has a rotation shaft which is vertical to a bottom surface of the drawer.

The supply unit may include a detergent box for holding detergent, a water supply pipe for supplying the washing water to the detergent box, and a discharge portion at the detergent box for introducing the washing water from the detergent box to the supplementary drum.

The washing machine may further includes a supplementary drum door openably mounted to a top of the supplementary drum for introducing the laundry into the supplementary drum, and the detergent box may be removably mounted to the supplementary drum door.

The door may include a detergent box opening for receiving the detergent box.

The water supply pipe may be connected to the detergent box if the drawer is pushed into the cabinet, and the water supply pipe may be disconnected from the detergent box if the drawer is pulled out of the cabinet.

The washing machine may further includes a leakage preventive portion at the water supply pipe for preventing the washing water from leaking.

The supply unit may include a detergent box under the partition, a water supply pipe above the partition for supplying the washing water to the detergent box, a discharge portion for introducing the washing water from the detergent box to the supplementary drum, and the partition has a partition pass through hole having the water supply pipe passed therethrough.

The supplementary drum may rotate round a rotation shaft vertical to a bottom surface of the drawer.

The detergent box may include a detergent box door which can be opened/closed for supplying the detergent to the detergent box when the drawer is pulled out of the drawer, and the detergent box door may include a door pass through hole for introduction of the washing water supplied to the detergent box through the water supply pipe.

The washing machine may further include a leakage preventive portion having one end connected to an end of the water supply pipe and the other end placed in the door pass through hole, for preventing the washing water from leaking.

The leakage preventive portion may be formed of a soft material, such that if the drawer is pulled out of the cabinet, the leakage preventive portion is separated from the door pass through hole, and if the drawer is pushed back into the cabinet, the leakage preventive portion is placed in the door pass through hole.

The leakage preventive portion includes cut portions cut in a direction the same with an axis direction of the water supply pipe.

In another aspect of the present invention, a washing machine includes a cabinet, a main drum rotatably mounted in the cabinet having a space for holding laundry, a supplementary drum rotatably mounted in the drawer having a space for holding laundry, and a supply unit for supplying detergent and washing water to the supplementary drum.

The cabinet may include a partition for dividing an inside space of the cabinet to enable mounting of the main drum and the drawer, separately.

The supply unit may include a detergent box for holding detergent, a water supply pipe for supplying the washing water to the detergent box, and a discharge portion which is a passage for introducing the washing water from the detergent box to the supplementary drum.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a washing machine in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A illustrates a sectional view of a washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a drawer thereof in a closed state.

FIG. 3B illustrates an enlarged view of the supply unit in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of a washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a drawer thereof in an open state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the washing machine 10 includes a cabinet 20 which forms an exterior of the washing machine 100, and a control panel 15 on a top surface of the cabinet 20.

The control panel 15 includes a control unit for controlling operation of the washing machine, and a display unit for displaying an operation state. According to this, by handling the control panel 15, the user can treat the laundry.

In the meantime, the washing machine 10 may include a support 30 for supporting the cabinet 20. The cabinet 20 is placed on a top of the support 30.

The support 30 serves to support the washing machine. However, since the support 30 is separate from the cabinet 20, to require fastening the cabinet 20 to the support 30 with fastening means, such as bolts, and so on, to require components additionally, fabrication of the washing machine becomes complicate.

Therefore, it is preferable that the support 30 is fabricated as one unit with the cabinet 20. Accordingly, a washing machine will be described, which has the support 30 fabricated as one unit with the cabinet 20.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a washing machine in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3A illustrates a sectional view of a washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a drawer thereof in a closed state.

The washing machine in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3A.

Referring to FIG. 2, the washing machine 100 includes a cabinet 200 which forms an exterior of the washing machine 100, a main drum 300 rotatably mounted in the cabinet 200 for forming a space for holding large volume laundry, and a supplementary drum 500 rotatably mounted to the cabinet 200 for forming a space for holding small volume laundry.

Accordingly, since both the large volume laundry and the small volume laundry can be treated with one washing machine without requiring a washing machine for treating the small volume laundry additionally, user's convenience can be improved. Moreover, in comparison to a case when both the large volume laundry and the small volume laundry are washed with separate washing machines respectively, the washing time period and the power consumption can be reduced.

Both the main drum 300 and the supplementary drum 500 are mounted to one cabinet 200 which forms an exterior of the laundry washing machine 100, wherein the main drum 300 and the supplementary drum 500 are mounted to spaces of the cabinet separated by a partition.

According to this, since the main drum 300 and the supplementary drum 500 can be mounted to one cabinet 200 together, the washing machine 100 can have a simple structure, enabling to save a cost required for fabrication.

In the meantime, the main drum 300, positioned in a space of the cabinet 200 on an upper side of the partition 210 (See FIG. 3A), washes or dries the large volume laundry. The main drum 300 has a rotation shaft at one side for rotating the main drum 300. The rotation shaft is mounted in the cabinet 200 parallel to the partition 210.

The washing machine of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3. The main drum 300 includes an outer tub 360 for housing the main drum 300 therein and holding washing water, and a main drum door 310 mounted to a front of the cabinet 200 for introduction of the laundry to the main drum 300.

The main drum door 310, enabling the user to introduce the laundry to the main drum 300, may have various type of doors.

In the meantime, though not shown, the washing machine 100 may be of a vertical shaft type which has a main drum 300 which is rotated by a vertical shaft vertical to the partition 210.

The washing machine 100 has a control panel 110 mounted on a top of the cabinet 200 for controlling operation of the main drum 300 and the supplementary drum 500, and displaying operation states of the main drum 300 and the supplementary drum 500. Therefore, by handling the control panel 110, the user can wash or dry the laundry.

In the meantime, the supplementary drum 500 washes and dries the small volume laundry. The supplementary drum 500 has a rotation shaft at one side for rotating the supplementary drum 500. The rotation shaft is vertical to a bottom surface of the cabinet 200. The supplementary drum 500 has a plurality of pass through holes in a side wall for flow in/out of the washing water, and a water holding tub 530 on an outside of the supplementary drum 500 for holding the washing water.

The supplementary drum 500 may be positioned on an upper space or a lower space of the cabinet 200 divided by the partition 210. However, because frequency of washing the small volume laundry is lower than frequency of washing the large volume laundry, it is preferable that the supplementary drum 500 is positioned in the lower space of the cabinet 200 divided by the partition 210.

In addition to this, the washing machine 100 includes a drawer 400 for housing the supplementary drum 500 and being drawable in a front direction of the cabinet 200. The drawer 400 includes a front panel 410 which forms a front exterior of the drawer, and a drum housing portion 420 which is a space for housing the supplementary drum 500 therein.

The drawer 400 includes a frame 524 for covering a drum housing unit 420, and it is preferable that the frame 524 and the water holding tub 530 are formed as one unit. A supplementary drum door 510 may be mounted to a top of the water holding tub 530 for user's introduction of the small volume laundry.

Though not shown in the drawing, the supplementary drum door 510 may include a locking device for locking the supplementary drum door 510.

The supplementary drum door 510 can prevent the washing water from splashing to an outside of the supplementary drum 500.

FIG. 3B illustrates an enlarged view of the supply unit in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of a washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a drawer thereof in an open state.

The supply unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 3B and 4. The washing machine 100 of the present invention includes a supply unit over the supplementary drum 500 for supplying the washing water to the supplementary drum 500, additionally.

The supply unit includes a detergent box 620 for holding detergent, a water supply pipe 600 for supplying the washing water to the detergent box 620, and a discharge portion 630 for discharging the washing water from the detergent box 620 to the supplementary drum 500.

The detergent box 620 includes a space for holding detergent, and a detergent box door 660 openably secured by a rotation portion 650. The detergent box door 660 may have a recess (not shown) for user's easy opening of the detergent box door 660.

Therefore, if it is intended to introduce to the detergent to the detergent box 620, the user can introduce the detergent to the detergent box 620 only by opening the detergent box door 660 without removing the detergent box 620 from the supplementary drum door 510.

The detergent door box 660 also has a door pass through hole 665 for introduction of the washing water from the water supply pipe 600 to the detergent box 620.

The supplementary drum door 510 includes a detergent box opening 515 for placing the detergent box 620 therein.

This is for making the detergent box 620 to be removable from the supplementary drum door 510.

Accordingly, if it is required to clean the detergent box 620 of accumulated remained detergent, the user can remove the detergent box 620 from the supplementary drum door 510 for cleaning.

The water supply pipe 600, above the detergent box 620, supplies the washing water to the detergent box 620, and has a water supply valve 610 (See FIG. 3A) for controlling opening/closing of the water supply pipe 600, additionally.

The water supply pipe 600 is provided in the space of the cabinet 200 divided by the partition where the main drum 300 is housed.

In detail, the water supply pipe 600 has one end passed through a partition pass through hole 670, and the other end fixed to an outside wall of the cabinet 200 having the main drum 300 mounted thereto. In the meantime, the water supply valve 610 is mounted to the water supply pipe 600.

It is preferable that the water supply pipe 600 is provided such that the washing water is supplied from above the supplementary drum 500, and a form of the water supply pipe 600 bent at 90 degrees is one of an example of the provision.

Accordingly, if the drawer 400 is pushed back into the cabinet 200, an end of the water supply pipe 600 from which the washing water is discharged is positioned over the detergent box 620. That is, if the drawer 400 is pushed back into the cabinet 200 fully, the end of the water supply pipe 600 connected to the partition pass through hole 670 can be placed in the door pass through hole 665 in the detergent box door 660. Accordingly, the washing water can be discharged to the detergent box 620 through the water supply pipe 600.

However, it is liable that the washing water can leak to a periphery of the detergent box 620 when the washing water is introduced to the detergent box 620 through the water supply pipe 600, and the end of the water supply pipe 600 runs into the supplementary drum door 510 (see FIG. 3A) or the frame 524 to interfere with movement of the drawer 400 when the drawer 400 moves.

Therefore, in order to make movement of the drawer 400 smooth, and prevent the washing water from leaking, it is preferable that the end of the water supply pipe 600 has a leakage preventive portion 640.

The leakage preventive portion 640, mounted along an outside circumference of the water supply pipe 600 in an axis direction of the water supply pipe 600, may have a tube shape.

An end of the leakage preventive portion 640 interferes with the supplementary drum door 510 or the frame 524 when the drawer 400 is pushed back into the cabinet 200 or pulled out of the cabinet 200. However, if the drawer 400 is pushed back into the cabinet 200 fully, the leakage preventive portion 640 is placed in the door pass through hole 665 in the detergent box door 660. (See FIG. 3B).

In the meantime, it is preferable that the leakage preventive portion 640 is formed of a soft material. Therefore, the leakage preventive portion 640 may be formed of rubber or plastic, and the end of the leakage preventive portion 640 may be cut at fixed intervals in the axis direction. According to this, when the drawer 400 is pushed back into the cabinet 200 or pulled out of the cabinet 200, the interference of the leakage preventive portion with the drawer 400 can be minimized.

Though not shown, the drawer 400 may include a supplementary water supply unit for supplying the washing water to the supplementary drum 500, additionally.

The discharge portion 630 includes a discharge hole 632 in one side of the detergent box 620 for discharging the washing water, and a discharge pipe 635 connected to the supplementary drum 500.

In the meantime, other components of a washing machine 100 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3A. The washing machine 100 includes a driving unit for transmission of driving power to the supplementary drum 500.

The driving unit includes a motor 150 for generating driving force, a driving pulley 152 connected to the rotation shaft of the motor 150, a follower pulley 156 connected to a rotation shaft of the supplementary drum 500, and a belt 154 which connects the driving pulley 152 to the follower pulley 156. Accordingly, if the motor 150 rotates, the follower pulley 156 is rotated through the driving pulley 152 and the belt 154. According to this, if the supplementary drum 500 rotates in a left or right direction, the laundry can be washed, rinsed and spun.

The washing machine 100 of the present invention includes a drain unit for draining the washing water from the supplementary drum 500 to an outside of the washing machine.

The drain unit may include a drain pipe 124 and a drain pump 122 for draining the washing water. The drain pipe 124 has one end connected to an underside of the water holding tub 530, and the other end fixed to an outside wall of the drawer 400. The drain pipe 124 has a drain pump 120 mounted thereto.

However, it is preferable that the drain pipe 124 is constructed of a material, or has a structure which is extendable in a drawing direction of the drawer 400. Because it is required that the drain pipe 124 extends when the drawer 400 is pulled out of the cabinet 200. (See FIG. 4).

The operation of the washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.

If the user intends to wash the small volume laundry, the user pulls the drawer 400 out of the cabinet 200 in a front direction of the cabinet 200. Then, the user opens the supplementary drum door 510 and closes the supplementary drum door 510 after introducing the small volume laundry.

Then, the user opens the door 660 on the detergent box 620, introduces detergent and fiber softener thereto, and closes the detergent box door 660. According to this, the user can introduce the detergent to the detergent box 620 without removing the detergent box 620 from the supplementary drum door 510.

Upon finishing supply of the detergent, the user pushes back the drawer 400 into the cabinet 200. In this instance, the leakage preventive portion 640 at the water supply pipe 600 is placed in the door pass through hole 665 in the detergent box pass through door 660. If the user applies an operation order to the control panel 110 for operating the supplementary drum 500, under the control of the control unit (not shown), the water supply valve 610 is opened, and the washing water is supplied to the detergent box 620 through the water supply pipe 600 and the leakage preventive portion 640.

In this instance, the leakage preventive portion at the end of the water supply pipe 600 prevents the washing water from leaking to an outside of the detergent box 620.

The washing water is supplied to the supplementary drum 500 through the discharge portion 630 after the washing water is mixed with the various kinds of detergent in the detergent box 620, and is held in the water holding tub 530, finally.

Then, the motor 150 rotates the supplementary drum 500 to wash the laundry, and the washing water having finished the washing is drained to an outside of the washing machine through the drain pipe 124.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

As has been described, the washing machine of the present invention has the following advantages.

First, the provision of a washing machine which treats large volume laundry and a washing machine which treats small volume laundry within one cabinet permits to provide a washing machine which has a simple structure and can save a production cost.

Second, the provision of a supplying unit which supplies the washing water and the detergent of a washing machine which treats small volume laundry permits to improve a washing effect and user's convenience. 

1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a main drum rotatably mounted in the cabinet having a space for holding laundry; a drawer mounted in the cabinet such that the drawer can be pulled out of the cabinet; a supplementary drum rotatably mounted in the drawer having a space for holding laundry; and a supply unit for supplying detergent and washing water to the supplementary drum.
 2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabinet includes a partition for dividing an inside space of the cabinet to enable mounting of the main drum and the drawer, separately.
 3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main drum is mounted in a space formed on an upper side of the partition, and the supplementary drum is mounted in a space formed on a lower side of the partition.
 4. The washing machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the supplementary drum has a rotation shaft which is vertical to a bottom surface of the drawer.
 5. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the supply unit includes; a detergent box for holding detergent, a water supply pipe for supplying the washing water to the detergent box, and a discharge portion at the detergent box for introducing the washing water from the detergent box to the supplementary drum.
 6. The washing machine as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a supplementary drum door openably mounted to a top of the supplementary drum for introducing the laundry into the supplementary drum, and the detergent box is removably mounted to the supplementary drum door.
 7. The washing machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the supplementary drum door includes a detergent box opening for receiving the detergent box.
 8. The washing machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the water supply pipe is connected to the detergent box if the drawer is pushed into the cabinet, and the water supply pipe is disconnected from the detergent box if the drawer is pulled out of the cabinet.
 9. The washing machine as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a leakage preventive portion at the water supply pipe for preventing the washing water from leaking.
 10. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supply unit includes; a detergent box under the partition, a water supply pipe above the partition for supplying the washing water to the detergent box, a discharge portion for introducing the washing water from the detergent box to the supplementary drum, and the partition has a partition pass through hole having the water supply pipe passed therethrough.
 11. The washing machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the supplementary drum has a rotation shaft which is vertical to a bottom surface of the drawer.
 12. The washing machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the detergent box includes a detergent box door which can be opened/closed for supplying the detergent to the detergent box when the drawer is pulled out of the drawer, and the detergent box door includes a door pass through hole for introduction of the washing water supplied to the detergent box through the water supply pipe.
 13. The washing machine as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a leakage preventive portion having one end connected to an end of the water supply pipe and the other end placed in the door pass through hole, for preventing the washing water from leaking.
 14. The washing machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein the leakage preventive portion is formed of a soft material, such that if the drawer is pulled out of the cabinet, the leakage preventive portion is separated from the door pass through hole, and if the drawer is pushed back into the cabinet, the leakage preventive portion is placed in the door pass through hole.
 15. The washing machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the leakage preventive portion includes cut portions cut in a direction the same with an axis direction of the water supply pipe.
 16. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a main drum rotatably mounted in the cabinet having a space for holding laundry; a supplementary drum rotatably mounted in the drawer having a space for holding laundry; and a supply unit for supplying detergent and washing water to the supplementary drum.
 17. The washing machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cabinet includes a partition for dividing an inside space of the cabinet to enable mounting of the main drum and the drawer, separately.
 18. The washing machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein the supply unit includes; a detergent box for holding detergent, a water supply pipe for supplying the washing water to the detergent box, and a discharge portion which is a passage for introducing the washing water from the detergent box to the supplementary drum. 